The ability to communicate with authority is among the most critical competencies for senior leaders, and new research reveals that most are struggling more than organisations realise. A survey by Benjamin Ball Associates, drawing on 2,589 questionnaires completed before executive coaching, finds that 74% of senior leaders reported concerns about confidence, nerves or self-belief. For associations and institutes across Ireland, the findings are a diagnostic and an opportunity to demonstrate strategic leadership on executive development.

The research makes a compelling case for association leadership on executive communication as a professional development priority. Three findings define the opportunity: the confidence gap cutting across seniority levels, the structural conditions making confident communication harder, and the approaches that work and that associations are well placed to deliver at scale.

The confidence gap is striking because it is not a junior problem. Benjamin Ball, founder of Benjamin Ball Associates, observed that the most experienced professionals often feel the greatest pressure because they care deeply about getting it right. Fear of being judged and pressure to demonstrate authority were identified as key factors. Separately, YouGov research of 250 business leaders commissioned by Nardello and Co found 57% had become more cautious because of reputational risk concerns.

The structural context is compounding the challenge. Steve Nicholls of Executive Connexions noted that leaders now communicate to multiple audiences through channels where comments can be recorded or taken out of context, encouraging over-preparation and loss of natural authority. Teresa Rose of ConsultHer HR identified technological change and changing workforce expectations as structural conditions. A coherent communication strategy, not generic training, is what leaders need.

The implications for programme design are significant. Rose cautioned against generic skills training, arguing that organisations should first analyse what is getting in the way. Nicholls recommended confidential support focused on real situations, while Bryony Williams of The Glass Female noted that confident communication is a muscle that diminishing in-person interaction has weakened in many leadership teams.

Three priorities stand out for association leaders. First, build targeted executive communication programmes into CPD offerings, tailoring interventions to the pressures the research identifies. Second, invest in structured member engagement that brings peers together for rehearsal, feedback, and reflection. Third, create safe peer communities where senior professionals can practise authentic communication without the reputational stakes of a public forum.

The Benjamin Ball Associates research is a timely reminder that leadership capability is never fixed, and that even the most experienced professionals need structured support to communicate at their best. For associations and institutes across Ireland, where executive communication is tested by digital channels, AI disruption, and heightened scrutiny, this is a moment to build the professional infrastructure that helps members speak with the confidence their expertise deserves.